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BADGER vs DANBY: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical BADGER model beats 24% and a typical DANBY model 54%. DANBY rates higher overall.

Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated

BADGER

24%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

4 models listed

DANBY

54%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

4 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FBADGER: Beats 77%DANBY: Beats 56%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FBADGER: Beats 15%DANBY: Beats 42%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2BADGER: Beats 23%DANBY: Beats 70%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2BADGER: Beats 14%DANBY: Beats 58%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2BADGER: Beats 5%DANBY: Beats 46%

Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.

  • CEE 2025

    BADGER
    0%
    DANBY
    100%

  • Xcel CC

    BADGER
    25%
    DANBY
    75%

  • CEE Advanced

    BADGER
    0%
    DANBY
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    BADGER
    0%
    DANBY
    50%

All-around best, ductless up to 1.5 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

Showing Ductless, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

BADGER

  1. 1BADG-12HFN10-B1Lwith ductless indoor unit BADG-12HRDN10-B1LBADGER1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 58% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    58% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.20 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    8.8 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    26.7score / 100Heating 42 · Cooling 11
  2. 2BADG-17HFN10-M1Lwith ductless indoor unit BADG-17HRDN10-M1LBADGER1.5 tons · 17,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 58% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    59% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    8.7 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.3 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.9 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    25.2score / 100Heating 35 · Cooling 15
  3. 3BADG-12HFN10-M1Lwith ductless indoor unit BADG-12HRDN10-M1LBADGER1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 58% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    58% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.20 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    8.8 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    8.8 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    22.7score / 100Heating 38 · Cooling 7

DANBY

  1. 1DAS090AGBAHWDB-Owith ductless indoor unit DAS090AGBAHWDB-IDANBY1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 85.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    82% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.33 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    13.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    24.6 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    14.7 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    86.7score / 100Heating 86 · Cooling 87
  2. 2DAS120AGBAHWDB-Owith ductless indoor unit DAS120AGBAHWDB-IDANBY1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 73.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    72% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.36 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    11.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    23.1 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.2 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    67.1score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 61
  3. 3DAS120EAQHWDB-O*with ductless indoor unit DAS120EAQHWDB-IDANBY1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 37.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    32.2score / 100Heating 38 · Cooling 27

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Next steps

The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.

Open the advanced view